Is your N.J. beach the best? Not if it doesn't have any of these features

People from in and around New Jersey make the trek to the shore to relax, unwind, and have a good time. We all have our favorites — and for good reason. Some towns offer amenities that others don't. And with the prices we pay to get on the beach, you might expect some basic services to enjoy your stay.

Below is a list of some items that we'd like to every (or almost every) beach offer. What are your suggestions?

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1. Bathrooms

This one is obvious, right? There are so many shore towns lined with private homes (yet public beaches) with no bathroom in sight. If you're trekking down the Parkway to the shore with an iced coffee in hand, stopping at Dunkin' Donuts or McDonalds for a quick bathroom break when you get to town isn't always ideal. Whether it's a Porta-Potty or something with a fancier title like Cape May's "Comfort Stations," we're not going to be picky. Just some place to go, when you have to go.

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Chris Franklin | For NJ.com

2. Parking Kiosk App

Sure, we would all love free parking and spots right along the beach, but that's not going to happen everywhere. For the towns that do charge by the minute or hour, a parking app would make it more convenient for beach-goers. Some shore towns such as Asbury Park and Wildwood offer apps to allow visitors to pay directly from their smartphone before going to the beach. Also, who wouldn’t want to stay on the beach and extend their parking time instead of walking a mile back to the car with quarters in their hand?

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Provided by Pixabay

3. App for beach tags

Free beaches (Thank you Atlantic City and Wildwood!) would be ideal. But for the towns where you have to shell out $5 to $15 for the day, an app -- for those who aren't collecting the seasonal tag as a memento — would make life easier.

With the current technologies that are available, why not have an app that would allow residents and tourists to purchase daily or season beach tags from their phone and have it scanned?

Some towns such as Seaside Heights and Ventnor allow it through an app called Viply. Once a pass is purchased, beach-goers can have their phone scanned to enable access and enjoy the rest of the day at the beach. According to the Viply website, there are currently 12 shore towns that utilize the service.

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Provided by the Borough of Avalon

4. Sunscreen Stations

Protecting skin from being burnt or from suffering the effects from possible skin cancer is vital. Also, everyone forgets to pack sunscreen at least once. Avalon recently installed a sunscreen dispenser at its beach to help protect against skin ailments and to raise awareness about skin safety. Genius!

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On July 26, 2018, ADA Celebration Committee and the disability community will celebrate the 28th anniversary of the...

Sea Isle City spokeswoman Katherine Custer said the city provides “Mobi-Mats,” beach mats that make it easier for elderly and people with disabilities to walk across sandy areas and ease the strain from getting from the parking lot to areas on the beach. The mats, which can be costly, also offer opportunities to add sponsorships, adding a possible additional revenue stream for municipalities.

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Perlman, Bill

6. Lockers

Whether you're there for the week or the whole summer, no one like having to lug all their stuff back and forth from the house or hotel. Some beach towns, like Long Branch and Belmar, offer locker services for the season. There are even 20-foot larger cabanas to rent (like a shed.)

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Tim Hawk

7. Shuttles or Tramcars

Trams and shuttles are used in some shore towns to get people from one end of the boardwalk to another. Not every shore town offers the service, as some are not big enough to have one. Still, having an option to shuttle guests from one end of a beach to another, or around town without it being a ride-sharing service would be a nice amenity.

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Lori M. Nichols

8. Pet Beach

It’s tough leaving your dog with at a kennel or with a sitter. Most shore towns let you bring your pup on the beach in the off-season but what are you to do in the summer? Some now offer dog parks in the shore town, or even designated dog beaches, like the one in Wildwood that features a giant fire hydrant for Fido.

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Provided by Flickr

9. Fire Pits

Popular along beaches on the Pacific Ocean, bonfires and fire pits allow for people to enjoy the sounds of the ocean and relax at night. A majority of the beaches either do not allow fires at all or require fires be put out by a certain time, usually dusk. Who wouldn’t want to sit with friends around a fire by the water?

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Lori M. Nichols

10. Boardwalk

This amenity depends on the type of person you are. Some residents purposely stay away from the lights, sounds, and crowds of boardwalks while others sometimes lament not having one, wishing they did not have to travel to another town to partake in amusement rides and carnival games.

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11. Showers (or at least a foot bath!)

After an entire day of lounging around in the sand and walking to and from the shoreline, the sand sticks to people as if limbs were flypaper. We're not talking free shampoo and terry cloth robes, but some kind of outdoor shower — or even just a spigot to rinse your feet — would help. We've seen towns with indoor bathhouses with private stalls, but even a shower head just off the sand would be appreciated.